Election Day

We’re going to have our own election tonight. We’re going to elect a new “god” to run the world.

We all know that in real life there is (and will always be) only one God, but we’re doing this just for fun.

6 But we know that there is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.

1 Corinthians 8:6 (NLT)

Let’s take a look at our candidates:

[Print out the candidates for the group and go through them together.]

Candidate #1 – The Lawmaker

“I will bring justice to this world!”

– Only wants a close relationship with certain people on earth
– Likes to set rules and spiritual laws
– Wants everyone to obey him more than anything else
– Only those who obey him will make it to heaven
– Enjoys seeing good people rewarded and bad people punished

Candidate #2 – The Philanthropist

“I will see that everyone receives the love that they need.”

– Wants a close relationship with everyone on earth
– Does not like laying any ground rules or spiritual laws
– Wants everyone to love each other as much as he loves them
– Enjoys listening to people complain about their lives
– Wants everyone to go to heaven

Candidate #3 – The Environmentalist

“I will protect the precious sea kittens!”

– Makes decisions to protect the environment at all costs
– Wants to be just as close to the animals as the humans
– Wants to punish those who mistreat animals
– Wants animals in heaven
– Does not like fly swatters

[Vote on the three candidates and determine the “winner”. Start with the winner below to determine what’s going to happen in the next four years. Then go back and read the other two.]

Candidate #1 – The Lawmaker – Outcome

Days after being elected, The Lawmaker published a list of 537 laws for everyone to follow. He also made clear that anyone who broke a law would be brought to justice. Those who stole would have something stolen from them. Those who lied would be lied to. Those who were lazy would not be successful. He also promised success to those who worked hard, rewarded the kind with kindness in return, and gave those who were truthful the ability to always see the truth. It wasn’t long though before people realized they weren’t capable of obeying all 537 laws all the time, and their lives became increasingly more and more difficult and painful. Even those who tried hard to obey made mistakes that cost them their happiness and even sometimes their lives. Everyone was miserable because no one could follow the rules and everyone was constantly punished. Even worse, no one made it to heaven.

Candidate #2 – The Philanthropist – Outcome

The Philanthropist was so glad to be elected that he held parties across the globe that lasted for 2 months. Some of them got out of hand and a few people died from “partying” too hard, but they went to heaven, anyways. The Philanthropist loved everyone very much, and at first everyone’s needs were met very well. Unfortunately though, it wasn’t long before a few people started to rebel and started doing terrible things to each other. The Philanthropist “loved” the rebels too much to stop them. He hated to see people get hurt, but could not bring himself to punish the wicked. The Philanthropist turned into a hysterical basketcase because he hated seeing everyone get hurt but couldn’t bring himself to punish the wicked. It wasn’t long before war broke out across the entire world and ultimately, everyone died. Everyone went to heaven but heaven was plagued with the same issues as the world, because The Philanthropist had not been selective.

Candidate #3 – The Environmentalist – Outcome

The Environmentalist quickly banned harming animals in any way, shape, or form. She went so far as to say that not even insects could be harmed, and all animals must be protected even if they’re endangering human lives. Furthermore, she insisted that plants have feelings too, and banned lawnmowers and hedgetrimmers. Punishment for harming an animal or a plant was death. Everyone tried their hardest to obey but it wasn’t long before they accidentally stepped on an ant or ran over a flower and were murdered on the spot. That is, if they were able to escape the growing predator population that was not being controlled. There were no humans left to go to heaven, but The Environmentalist didn’t care because she liked the animals and plants better anyways.

After knowing the outcomes, now who would you vote for? Nobody? Who would you vote for instead? [The Lord]

God (the one and only true God) obviously knows best.

33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!

34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
Who knows enough to give him advice?35 And who has given him so much
that he needs to pay it back?

Romans 11:33-35

God knows everything, literally. Praise the Lord that we don’t have to vote for our god, and that we can trust Him with everything.

How should this affect are decisions on election day?

[We should be praying for the candidates and the country.]

[When we’re able to vote, we need to do our best to vote for the candidate who we believe will come the closest to leading like Jesus would.]